Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon Heavy : USSF-67 : KSC LC-39A : 15 January 2023 (22:56 UTC) (Read 148452 times)

Targeteer · « **on:** 05/17/2021 01:30 am »

Discussion Thread for USSF-67 mission.

Successful launch January 15, 2023 at 5:56 PM EST (22:56 UTC) on Falcon Heavy from LC-39A to GEO.

Payloads:
CBAS 2
LDPE-3A

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $16,737,600 modification (P00005) to contract FA8811-20-F-0007 to add mission-unique launch services to the USSF-67 mission fixed-price task order under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed Oct. 2, 2022. Fiscal 2021 space procurement funds in the amount of $6,054,089; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,582,317 will be obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.

Targeteer · « **Reply #1 on:** 05/17/2021 01:35 am »

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/

Space Force awards National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service contracts to ULA, SpaceX

/ Published August 07, 2020

"SpaceX has been assigned USSF-67, scheduled for launch in fourth quarter fiscal year 2022. "

Jansen · « **Reply #2 on:** 05/17/2021 02:33 am »

There is no information yet that this will be a Falcon Heavy.

What’s the source on LDPE-3?

Targeteer · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/17/2021 02:44 am »

from this site's US Launch schedule

(2022) Q4 - USSF-67, LDPE-3 - Falcon Heavy - Kennedy LC-39A

Jansen · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/17/2021 02:46 am »

Quote from: Targeteer on 05/17/2021 02:44 am

from this site's US Launch schedule

(2022) Q4 - USSF-67, LDPE-3 - Falcon Heavy - Kennedy LC-39A

If you’re talking about Salo’s list, it’s pretty much a best guess. It’s not even the right timeframe. Q4 FY 2022 is Q3 CY 2022 for everyone else.

Edit to add:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/02/15/spacex-planning-launch-of-two-falcon-heavy-missions-in-summer-and-fall/

Quote

The Space Force’s USSF-67 mission, awarded to SpaceX last year, may also launch on a Falcon Heavy. But military officials have not confirmed a rocket assignment for that mission.

gongora · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/17/2021 05:49 am »

A month after the contract award a presentation by an Air Force general showed 3 Falcon Heavies on contract.

PM3 · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/06/2021 09:53 am »

Is there any information about the payload on this mission? Number of satellites, mass, orbit?

Star One · « **Reply #7 on:** 07/06/2021 10:45 am »

Quote from: PM3 on 07/06/2021 09:53 am

Is there any information about the payload on this mission? Number of satellites, mass, orbit?

There often isn’t this far out from the launch.

Jansen · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/06/2021 06:03 pm »

Quote from: Star One on 07/06/2021 10:45 am

Quote from: PM3 on 07/06/2021 09:53 am
Is there any information about the payload on this mission? Number of satellites, mass, orbit?
There often isn’t this far out from the launch.

Especially for NSSL, no need to tender.

Phillipsturtles · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/31/2021 06:10 pm »

https://spacenews.com/falcon-heavy-could-launch-three-u-s-space-force-missions-in-2022/

Quote

USSF-67, a classified national security mission to geostationary Earth orbit awarded to SpaceX last year under a $332 million contract, is “on track for mid-to-late 2022 launch,” a U.S. Space Systems Command spokesman confirmed Oct. 30. The mission will fly on a Falcon Heavy rocket with an expendable center core, although SpaceX will be able to recover the two side boosters.

Confirmation that the center core booster for this mission will be expended and the side boosters I presume will be recovered with droneships.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/30/2022 03:11 am »

SFN Launch Schedule update, March 25 (one of many):
USSF-67 launches in November 2022 from KSC LC-39A.

scr00chy · « **Reply #11 on:** 08/15/2022 01:28 pm »

I'm guessing this is about this launch?

Quote

The first classified National Security Space Launch mission using a Falcon Heavy with refurbished boosters is scheduled for sometime from October to December, according to the Space Force. It’s a mission to launch a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, which develops and manages spy satellites, according to a previous Space Force statement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/spacex-cleared-to-loft-us-spy-satellites-using-reusable-boosters

AmigaClone · « **Reply #12 on:** 08/15/2022 02:35 pm »

Quote from: scr00chy on 08/15/2022 01:28 pm

I'm guessing this is about this launch?

Quote
The first classified National Security Space Launch mission using a Falcon Heavy with refurbished boosters is scheduled for sometime from October to December, according to the Space Force. It’s a mission to launch a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, which develops and manages spy satellites, according to a previous Space Force statement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/spacex-cleared-to-loft-us-spy-satellites-using-reusable-boosters

I would guess that the article might be referring to the future use of the side boosters used in this mission.

SpaceX has three FH launches scheduled for the USSF (USSF-44, USSF-52 and USSF-67). At the moment it appears that this mission will actually be the first one of those three to launch, so one or both of the others could be using flight proven boosters.

Alexphysics · « **Reply #13 on:** 08/15/2022 04:08 pm »

Yeah it was previously planned for them to use the same side boosters on all missions but back then the order was 44, 52, and 67. Now it appears to be the opposite so this one will likely fly those side boosters as new boosters and then proceed with 52 and 44 reusing them

Josh_from_Canada · « **Reply #14 on:** 08/15/2022 05:19 pm »

Quote from: Alexphysics on 08/15/2022 04:08 pm

Yeah it was previously planned for them to use the same side boosters on all missions but back then the order was 44, 52, and 67. Now it appears to be the opposite so this one will likely fly those side boosters as new boosters and then proceed with 52 and 44 reusing them

Has the center core assignments changed for these missions?

Alexphysics · « **Reply #15 on:** 08/15/2022 05:52 pm »

Quote from: Josh_from_Canada on 08/15/2022 05:19 pm

Quote from: Alexphysics on 08/15/2022 04:08 pm
Yeah it was previously planned for them to use the same side boosters on all missions but back then the order was 44, 52, and 67. Now it appears to be the opposite so this one will likely fly those side boosters as new boosters and then proceed with 52 and 44 reusing them

Has the center core assignments changed for these missions?

Not aware of that, not sure they would care about changing those since they're all expendable anyways

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #16 on:** 08/19/2022 03:46 am »

Will 1076 be the FH center for this launch? With 1064 and 1065 (also new) as the sides?

1075 is a FH side for Psyche.

1077 is for Crew-5.

Alexphysics · « **Reply #17 on:** 08/19/2022 07:51 am »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 08/19/2022 03:46 am

Will 1076 be the FH center for this launch? With 1064 and 1065 (also new) as the sides?

1075 is a FH side for Psyche.

1077 is for Crew-5.

Center core for this mission was previously scheduled to be B1079, probably still is. B1076 is a Falcon 9 booster to be flown as FH side booster on its 3rd mission.

vanoord · « **Reply #18 on:** 08/19/2022 01:45 pm »

B1066 and B1068 are the 'oldest' two FH center cores waiting for flight?

scr00chy · « **Reply #19 on:** 08/19/2022 01:49 pm »

Quote from: vanoord on 08/19/2022 01:45 pm

B1066 and B1068 are the 'oldest' two FH center cores waiting for flight?

Yes.